Day 3

Breakfast

8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Workshop Block #5

9:00 AM-10:15 AM

Building a Community of Support for Kinship Caregivers

Presenters

• Darlene Sansone BA, Co-Leader Kinship Retreats and Food, Families and Health, Family Well-Being, Relatives as Parents Team
• Rozalia Horvath M.A., Extension Educator, Food, Families, and Health Penn State Extension

Participation in support groups can increase social support and family competence among kinship caregivers. However, most kinship caregivers are not served by support groups, and support group facilitators may need help planning engaging and informative content. Extension staff at Penn State and West Virginia University collaborated to design a 12-module curriculum for kinship caregiver support groups. These sessions cover various topics relevant to kinship families, from child development and Adverse Childhood Experiences to behavior and discipline issues to navigating the school and legal systems. The curriculum combines educational lessons and interactive activities to help participants learn about childrearing as kinship caregivers and develop useful skills to do so. This presentation will showcase how interviews with kinship caregivers informed curriculum development, share feedback from piloting the curriculum, and demonstrate how the curriculum can help attendees create and sustain kinship caregiver support groups in their communities.

Psychological Well-Being Impacts of Food-Based Intergenerational Activities Introduced in a Care Home in Malaysia

Presenter

• Julie Mohamed Ph.D Student in Applied Psychology Malaysian Government

The comparative case studies project to be presented in this session involves data collections in two countries-- Malaysia and the UK-- which can provide valuable insights for policymakers and decision-makers. This project, which was carried out in Putrajaya, Malaysia, involved an examination of how varied factors such as social, economic, and cultural contexts influence the ways in which these activities are conceptualized and practiced. This project also examined the ways in which food-based intergenerational activities contribute to socialization and relationship building across generations. For example, these activities may provide opportunities for an older person to pass on cultural knowledge to the younger generations, or for young people to learn new skills from older persons. Additionally, cooking and sharing meals together can help foster a sense of community and connection between individuals of different ages.

The session will highlight how the approaches, policies, and interventions examined in this project can benefit the aging population.

Community Stewardship - Teaching Generations to Take Action and Collaborate

Presenters

• Linda Falcone Extension Educator, Leadership and Community Vitality Penn State Extension
• Suzanna Windon Associate Professor of Youth and Adult Leadership Penn State University

Stewardship, as defined by Hernandez (2008, 2012), entails leadership behaviors that foster a sense of personal responsibility for the long-term well-being of society. This concept distinguishes itself from altruistic and citizenship behaviors typically associated with volunteer actions. Volunteer actions encompass various levels of competence and motivation. In contrast, stewardship actions involve individuals with expertise who act for the greater good, engage in leadership roles, and impact their communities. Stewards demonstrate higher commitment and engagement levels than volunteers, reflecting predictors of quality stewardship experiences. Prior research categorized stewardship actions into personal/private and social/public categories, emphasizing their diverse and impactful nature (Alisat & Riemer, 2015; Erdogan & Marcinkowski, 2012; Evers & von Essen, 2019; Hungerford & Jones, 2006; Turnbull et al., 2020; Woosnam et al., 2019; Zimmerman & Zahniser, 1991; Windon et al. 2022).

Fostering intergenerational communities through environmental projects strengthens social bonds and builds a foundation for sustainable development. By creating spaces where individuals of all ages can work together towards a common goal, these initiatives promote inclusivity and cohesion within neighborhoods. Through shared experiences and collaborative efforts, community members develop skills that help them lead community projects and collaborate with individuals of different ages. Also, it gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their surroundings and leads to greater civic engagement and participation in local decision-making processes.

Empowering community stewards to take action through intergenerational collaboration will help build resilient and vibrant communities that address future environmental challenges.

Workshop Block #6

10:30 AM-11:30 AM

Strategies and Tools for Building Successful Partnerships to Support Grandfamilies, Kinship Families and Professionals

Presenters

• Kathy Dial CEO and Founder Kin and Kids Consulting
• Sarah Smalls Generations United Grand Families Advisory

We have established collaborations/ partnerships with a wide range of local, state, and national organizations to address the needs and provide support for Grandfamilies, Kinship Caregivers, and the agencies that work directly with this population.

Two of our most important collaborations are the partnership we have with JustServe and the establishment of the Virginia Kinship Convening Group.

JustServe is a program founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The platform connects community volunteers with non-profit organizations such as Kids, Kin n Caregivers, Inc. The program provides both in-kind support and volunteers. The Church has locations throughout the United States and worldwide that offer similar programs.

The second collaborative effort has been the development of the Virginia Kinship Convening Group. In Spring of 2022, Generations United - GrandFamilies and Kinship Support Network (National Technical Assistance Center) hosted two statewide convening meetings for professionals/kinship families interested in working together to address needs and policy issues impacting kinship and grandfamilies. As a result of these meetings and the assistance of the National Technical Assistance Center, the Virginia Kinship Convening Group was formed as a statewide kinship task force for the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a result of our work, policies and procedures were developed to further assist kinship families and professionals.

Collaborations and partnerships are built over time. It takes trust, respect and transparency to establish strong partnerships.

Exploring the Power of Activity in Accomplishing Intergenerational Program Goals

Presenter

• Kyle Peck Professor Emeritus of Education, Co-Founder Doing Good With Wood

"Doing Good with Wood" is an educational, non-profit corporation that brings people together through woodworking.

Inspired by the international work of the "Men's Sheds" program, by Dr. Matt Kaplan's thinking on the "Levels of Intergenerational Programs," and the Jana Marie Foundation's understanding of the importance of "Healthy Hobbies" in promoting mental health, our tiny non-profit organization engages in projects and partnerships that benefit other nonprofit organizations, focusing on projects that create ongoing relationships in which people from multiple generations work shoulder to shoulder, building relationships, not just products.

In this presentation we will briefly discuss:

• the beliefs on which our work is based
• how we have evolved during our seven-year history
• the partnerships we have developed, and
• the benefits received by all involved.

A simple (20 minute) hands-on woodworking activity will bring participants together and allow them to experience how project-based activity can promote the sort of casual conversation that leads to relationship building, a key component in mental health. Our session will conclude with a "Lessons Learned" segment and ample time for discussion.

Soul-utions: Big Outcomes From a Little Workbook for Caregivers Offers Surprising Soul-utions for Public Health

Presenter

• Tia McCoun Founder and President Boots and Wings Project: Caregiver Soul-utions and Resources, Inc

Valuable studies over decades inform the current caregiving conversation. (ACL, AARP, NAIC, NIH, Penn State, tech and medical institutions). As a clinical practitioner advocating for patients and caregivers, a hands-on tool was not as accessible. I converted a common marketing tool into a clinical resource and then tested its relevancy with individuals and small groups. I believed that individuals who have a physical tool into which they have integrated their own health narrative will shift from avoidance mode or reactive behaviors (crisis) to engagement and proactive behaviors (wellness). Individual and family awareness, preparation, and communication are vital components needed to reduce individual caregiving costs, stress, access, health care errors and expense and improve relationships.

Positive narrative reports extended beyond caregivers and their "aha" moments; they included input from multiple providers and social service providers. There were also unintended discoveries requiring deeper investigation, some of which will be discussed in this presentation.

Soul-utions are local, sustainable, non-partisan, flexible answers that benefit the whole. My design incorporated an ownership and empowerment mindset for end-users and learners with intentionality to shift culture and address future needs. The tools and resources, even those not yet produced, are created for replication and workforce development. I own proprietary material and am authoring publications and have projects yet to be developed.

Lunch (Closing Remarks and Next Steps)

11:45 AM-12:45 PM

Intergenerational Fun Mini-Festival

1:00 PM-3:00 PM

The Intergenerational fun mini-festival event will bring together residents and visitors of all ages for art, storytelling, music, dancing, and other activities. The 2-hour long event features interactive exhibits and events planned by local organizations and Penn State Extension working to expand opportunities for intergenerational communication, learning and living throughout the Lancaster area.